Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara is once again calling for the state Legislature to keep fighting for legislation (A.8174) that strengthens pensions for our veterans – legislation that the governor continues to block.

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo vetoed the bill for a second time after first sending it back to the Legislature in November of 2014.

“Not only am I disappointed with the governor’s veto, I am also disturbed that our veterans have been denied this pension benefit twice in one year,” said Santabarbara, who co-sponsored the legislation. “This proposal continues to have overwhelming bipartisan support, and I’m counting on the state Legislature to keep fighting for this until it becomes law. Our veterans deserve our support.”

Currently, state and local government employees who served in combat before 1975 are able to purchase up to three years of pension credit time. This legislation would expand the credit to veterans of more recent conflicts and to those veterans who were not in active combat.

“By strengthening retirement benefits for our veterans, this bill would encourage them to return to New York State and continue their public service as teachers, firefighters and police officers as well as local and state government workers,” added Santabarbara, a U.S. Army Reserve veteran who worked to create Schenectady County’s first AmVets post, Rotterdam AmVets Post 35, in 2012.

AmVets is a national veterans’ organization that includes members from each branch of the military and allows active-duty members to join.

“All our veterans served this country, and all our veterans should receive this credit,” said Doug VanIderstyne, commander of Rotterdam AmVets Post 35. “I thank Assemblyman Santabarbara for standing up for veterans and defending the rights of the brave men and women who defend this country every day.”

Carl Strang, a retired U.S. Army captain from Rotterdam, said, “I can't understand why the governor would decide to reject this bill for a second time. We volunteered to put our lives on the line for our country, and that’s a commitment that doesn’t discriminate. Thank you, Assemblyman Santabarbara, for recognizing the importance of this bill and for fighting for the rights of all veterans statewide.”